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Friday, December 31, 1999

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #120, December 31, 1999)

Because I was out of town (out of the country, actually) during the recent Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000 contest weekend, I’m turning over the reporting duties to guest columnist Dave Rhodes, editor of The Leather Journal. From the pictures I’ve seen and from what people have told me, it sounds like I missed quite a party.

David Coral and Hannah Miyamoto Take Minnesota Olympus Leather Titles

by Dave Rhodes, editor of The Leather Journal

David Coral became Mr. Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000 and Mistress Hannah was named Ms Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000 at the Saloon in Minneapolis, MN on Sunday night, December 12. The first runner-up in the Mr. competition was Scott Kelley.

A meet and greet was held at the Minneapolis Eagle on Friday night. A vendor fair on Saturday afternoon included Fit To A T Leather, erotic artists Mark DeBauch and Damon, Mr. Boots and Lugh’s Leather.

Contest producers PJ Knight and Vickie King of the Knights of Leather, along with Cori Ander, presented the Twin Cities Leather Community Service Award to Lavender Magazine columnist Steve Lenius, who was unable to be present. The plaque was accepted by Lavender founding editor George Holdgrafer.

Approximately $600, benefiting the winners’ travel fund, was raised through a Teddy Bear Auction that was divided between Friday night and Sunday night.

Coral and Hannah will compete for the Mr. and Ms Olympus Leather 2000 title on Saturday night, February 26 at the Le Petite Theatre in New Orleans.

Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)

Saturday, January 8

Atons Leather/Levi NightLocation and time to be determined
Presented by the Atons, open to all. For information and reservations call the Atons Hotline.

Friday, December 17, 1999

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #119, December 17, 1999)

It’s that “Deck the Dungeon” time of year, and look what I found while I was hauling out the decorations. This holiday column first appeared on December 20, 1996, in Issue 41 of Lavender. Think of it as a Christmas fantasy performance in print. Whatever you celebrate, and however you celebrate it—Happy Holidays.

Many, many years ago, in a land far away, there was a young drummerboy named Willie. Willie played his drum at the temple, where he accompanied the temple dancers. He loved drumming, and he also loved the leather harness that he wore to carry the drum. It had been a gift from his Daddy, who had made it especially for him. He loved the harness so much that sometimes he wore it even when he wasn’t playing drums. His Daddy had a harness too (even though he didn’t play drums at all) and most of their other friends had harnesses and other leather clothing as well.

Playing the drum at the temple didn’t pay very well, but Willie didn’t mind. Shortly after he had attained manhood and left his parents’ house he had started living with his Daddy, an older gentleman who made a good living as a successful astrologer.

One winter night, Willie and his Daddy were lying in bed, cradled in each other’s arms. Willie, feeling very contented, looked out the window at the starry sky. Suddenly he saw one star grow brighter and brighter, until it blazed with a radiance he had never seen before. As he drifted off to sleep holding his Daddy, he thought to himself that the star could have symbolized the love he and his Daddy shared.

The next day Willie had just finished playing his drum when his Daddy suddenly appeared at the temple. “Willie, take your drum and come with me,” said his Daddy. “We’re going on a long journey.” The King had seen the same star that Willie and his Daddy had seen the night before, and had asked his Daddy’s company (Weisman, Weisman and Weisman Astrological Consultants P.A.) to investigate it.

Day and night, the star continued to blaze in the sky as Willie, his Daddy and his Daddy’s two partners followed it for twelve days. Finally, it led them to a tiny stable behind an inn in an obscure village. In the stable, among the animals and the stablehands, there was a young woman, Mary, sitting on a bale of hay nursing a baby! Willie had never seen such a sight before. But what was even more incredible was that his Daddy and his Daddy’s partners knelt down before the mother and child and presented them with rare and precious gifts. Willie didn’t understand at all what was happening.

Willie’s Daddy, seeing the look of puzzlement on his face, took him aside. He explained that he and his partners had all had a dream telling them that this child was the long-awaited Hebrew Moshiac, or Messiah, who was born to remind all people everywhere of the common humanity they share.

Willie was amazed to hear this. He understood how important this was, and he felt both honored to be in the presence of this child and ashamed that he had no gift to bring, as his Daddy had. He went over to Mary intending to apologize. But before he could say anything, Mary spoke to him. “Thank you for coming here, Willie. You honor my child with your presence. Your Daddy told me all about you.” “He did?” Willie suddenly felt uneasy; many people in that time didn’t approve of Daddy/boy relationships, or people who wore harnesses even when they didn’t need to. Mary, who was wise beyond her years, sensed his discomfort and said, “Yes, and don’t you ever worry or feel ashamed of who you are. You have every right to be part of this holy event; you are just as much a brother to this child as is any other person.

“This child was born to be brother and friend to everyone in the whole world, in each and every tribe. I know your tribe is working on brotherhood and sisterhood in your own way. You have an idea of what brotherhood and sisterhood are all about; many people in this world don’t.”

Willie listened, fascinated, as Mary foretold some of the events in the life of her child, Jesus. He would never condemn anyone, and in fact would associate with many classes of people whom the rest of society at the time considered untouchable. History would never record whether Jesus ever married or had children. But it would record that he had many followers, including a disciple named John who would be enigmatically referred to as “the disciple Jesus loved”; scholars would argue for centuries over the exact meaning of that phrase. And they would argue over whether or not Jesus was, in fact, Moshiac. What they wouldn’t argue about was that Jesus was destined to play the most famous crucifixion scene in history.

Willie found himself lost in the wonder of Mary’s predictions. Suddenly, he remembered what he had intended to tell her: “I’m sorry I have no gift to give your son.” As he said this, an idea came to him: “Perhaps I can play my drum for him, like I do in the temple.” Mary nodded and said, “I think that would be lovely.”

As his Daddy listened with pride, Willie played his drum softly, gently and skillfully, tapping into the primal rhythms of the wind, sky, ocean, birds and animals. As he played, Mary swayed and rocked Jesus gently to the rhythm of the drum.

As they left the stable, Willie turned to his Daddy and said, “Daddy, I think we just saw something very special.” “Yes,” said his Daddy, “I think we did.”

Friday, December 3, 1999

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #118, December 3, 1999)

PHOTO: Mountie uniform

Many members of the leather community are attracted to uniforms. Some folks like collecting and wearing them; other folks simply gaze approvingly when someone else is wearing one. Uniforms seem to be a gender-neutral attraction, enjoyed equally by both men and women.

It’s natural that uniforms should be a turn-on for this community, considering that the community was initiated in large part by servicemen and servicewomen returning from World War II. They had come from small-town America where they lived in isolation, often feeling like they were the only person alive with these unnatural urges toward members of their own sex. Suddenly they were in the military, in a same-sex barracks, and they typically found out quickly that there were many, many others like them. Friendships were made that continued long after the war was over. Uniforms, being a big part of their coming-out milieu, acquired powerful symbolism.

Today, military uniforms remain popular and have been joined by police uniforms, medical uniforms (especially in medical scenes), prison guard uniforms . . . and the list goes on. Firefighting uniforms, with their rubber coats and boots and their fire-protection facemasks, have a special crossover attraction to lovers of rubber and industrial gear (see last issue’s column—and see also the follow-up item below). And even to non-uniform lovers, a bright-red Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform turns heads.

All these uniforms remind us of military or paramilitary systems dependent on hierarchy, authority and subordination; that gets fantasies going for many people. (Think drill-sergeant or prison-guard scenes.) Uniforms represent a masculine, rugged look, a splendid display of machismo that is appreciated by both leathermen and leatherwomen on both leathermen and leatherwomen.

Uniforms can be procured at estate sales, second-hand shops and military surplus stores. Some people will feel fine wearing whatever uniform pieces they can find; other, more detail-oriented souls wouldn’t think of wearing an incomplete or non-regulation uniform themselves, and won’t understand how anyone else could either.

And then there’s a group of people who don’t need to search for uniforms: real servicemen and servicewomen, who wear them every day in the service of their country. Every year the Olympus Leather Contest/Pantheon of Leather ceremonies in New Orleans feature a tribute to those patriotic members of the leather community who have served or are currently serving in the various branches of the Armed Forces. I was in the audience for last year’s ceremonies, and it was an impressive sight: a line of sharp-looking, proud men and women in uniform stretching across the stage. I got some great pictures of it, and I only wish I could publish one of them. Unfortunately, I can’t; in this era of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” I wouldn’t want to inadvertently “out” anyone. But it was obvious that the tradition of gay men and lesbian women (and kinky ones at that) proudly serving their country continues to this day. Next year’s Olympus Leather Contest/Pantheon of Leather takes place February 25-27 in New Orleans. If you’re a present or former member of any country’s Armed Forces, go and be honored. (And, while we’re on the subject of the Olympus Leather Contest, remember that the Minnesota Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest weekend takes place December 10 at The Minneapolis Eagle and December 12 at The Saloon.)

Is it illegal to wear a uniform? The American Uniform Association is a nationwide group of uniform devotees, people “who share the pride, integrity, loyalty, and spirit that uniforms symbolize.” Here’s what they have to say about the topic: “AUA does not encourage illegal acts. Common sense dictates that the attitudes of law enforcement agencies be respected. But for the most part, collectors and enthusiasts are free to display what uniforms they choose. Laws vary from state to state and country to country. In some places owning certain uniform items is illegal. In others, the question in a confrontation with the law may come down to whether there is an intent to misrepresent. AUA encourages its members to be discreet.” The AUA has established a Legal Defense Fund to assist members who might be unfairly or unconstitutionally prosecuted.

Not everyone enjoys uniforms—certain aspects of uniforms make some people uncomfortable. What is sexy, they ask, about a police uniform when there’s so much police hatred of, and brutality against, the GLBT community? Pacifists may feel uncomfortable with the militaristic, war-centric overtones of military uniforms. And certain types of uniforms and uniform scenes (for example, anything with a Nazi theme) are viewed by many members of the community as going too far, and meet with almost universal disfavor. Police scenes combined with race play (such as white cop/black criminal, or vice versa) are also not exactly politically correct. Of course, some people find excitement in being politically incorrect. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of what’s appropriate and what’s beyond the pale in such matters; your humble columnist was planning to be a conscientious objector rather than fight the Vietnam (or any other) war, but he still finds something exciting about uniforms and about people wearing them.

If you find something exciting about uniforms and the people wearing them (or not wearing them, as the case may be), you’ll love a magazine called In Uniform. They’ve published thirteen quarterly issues so far and have produced two videos, all of which are available on their website: www.teleport.com/~uniform. The website also features information about the American Uniform Association and a huge list of links to other uniform-related sites.

B.D. Chambers is First Runner-Up to Mr. International Rubber 2000

On Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Cell Block Bar in Chicago, Tom Kelly from New Jersey was awarded the title of Mr. International Rubber 2000,. Our own B.D. Chambers, who was interviewed for this column last issue, was 1st runner-up (Congratulations, B.D.!) and James Drew from San Mateo, California was 2nd runner-up. The contest was the subject of a live webcast on Rubbermen.com, and they’re thinking of rebroadcasting it—check their website for details. You can see photos of the contest and the Rubber Blowout weekend at the Cell Block’s website, www.cellblock-chicago.com.

Atons Holiday Fundraiser and Silent Auction

Start your holiday season off with a bang at the Atons Holiday Fundraiser and Silent Auction this Sunday, Dec. 5 (5-10 PM) at The Saloon.

• Bring donations of food for the Aliveness Project’s Holiday Basket Program. Donations of food will make you eligible for special door prize drawings on merchandise or a gift certificate from Fit to a T Leather.

• Bring pennies (or other change) for Every Penny Counts. For every pound of change you bring, you’ll get a ticket for the grand door prize drawing—you might win a leather jacket from Trackstar Motorsports. The Saloon will generously match the amount of pennies up to $150, and First Bank of the Lakes will match the amount up to $100 (as well as counting all that change for free).

• Bid on over 35 Silent Auction items. If you haven’t already seen the auction catalog, you can check out the items on the Atons website at www.starbase21.com/ATONS/auction.htm. (Even if you can’t be there Sunday, you can still make a bid using the absentee bidding form—download it at www.starbase21.com/ATONS/Bid.pdf.)

• It just wouldn’t be an Atons Holiday Fundraiser without bootblacking, photos with Leather Santa, food, and 75-cent tap beer and sodas. $5 at the door if you bring food to donate, $8 at the door if you don’t.

Minnesota Olympus Leather Meet & Greet7-10 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
Meet and greet the contestants and judges and see the teddy bears that will be auctioned off at the contest on Sunday. $2 cover includes drink specials.

Sunday, December 12

Mr./Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather Contest7-10 PM, The Saloon
Be there when Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Olympus 2000 are chosen. Contest features hot men, hot women, fantasy entertainment, and the presentation of the Leather Community Service Award. Bid on your favorite bear at the Leather Teddy Bear auction. $10 at the door. Call for further information or to be a contestant.